Camp Staff

Jane-Rachel Schonbrun

Jane-Rachel Schonbrun is a Jewish educator and community builder who has spent more than two decades working in a variety of Jewish communal organizations, including camps, JCCs, schools, synagogues, and social service agencies.  Prior to joining Camp Yavneh, she served as Director of Institutional Advancement at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires.  Before that, Jane-Rachel worked as Director of Foundation Relations at Avodah, as a Program Director at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, CA, and as Director of Student Life at Kehillah High School (also in Palo Alto). As a recipient of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, Jane-Rachel earned her MS in Social Work from Columbia University and her MA in Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary's Graduate School.  A Baltimore native, Jane-Rachel studied as an undergraduate at the University of Maryland. Her college experience was enhanced by two years studying in Israel and summers leading teen programs in Israel, Poland, and across the U.S.   Jane-Rachel’s favorite camp activities include rikud (dance), all-things omanut (art), and swimming in the agam (lake).  When she’s not at camp, Jane-Rachel lives with her partner, Rabbi Aaron Schonbrun, and their four kids in Deal, NJ.

Netanel Spiegel

Netanel is currently the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Camp Yavneh, working for camp year round to ensure that each summer is better than the one before. Netanel joined the Camp Yavneh family in 2012 as a member of Camp's Food Service (YFS) and has taken on more and more responsibilities in the continued management of camp. Netanel spends his winters in Israel and counts down the days until summer to return to Northwood and be in the most special place on the planet!

Anat Litwok

Anat Litwok has known from a young age that she wants to become a camp professional and each day at camp she feels she is living out her dream. Prior to joining Camp Yavneh, Anat worked at Pozez JCC's Camp Achva for four years serving as the Assistant Director during her first summer and the Camp Director for the following three summers. Before that, Anat had worked at Camp Louemma as a Division Head in the summer and stayed on as their Outreach Coordinator during the school year. In addition, Anat spent eight years living on Kibbutz Dan in Israel. Throughout her time in Israel, she served as a commander in the education unit of the IDF, volunteered as a counselor at a boarding school for kids from broken homes, worked numerous jobs in both formal and informal education, and earned her B.A. in Economics and Management from Tel Hai Academic College. Anat believes that the camp setting allows campers opportunities for personal growth and development that cannot be found in a traditional school setting. At camp, she is known for never taking off a friendship bracelet, showing off her kazoo talent, and always sporting a camp t-shirt. When not at camp, Anat lives in Virginia with her cuddly dog Mordy (Mordechai).

Efrat Assulin

Efrat was born in Israel and raised in the US from the age of four. Upon completion of her BA in Communications and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan, Efrat made aliyah to Israel. In Israel, Efrat worked in events management and higher administrative and marketing roles in high tech while also obtaining her MBA with a focus in marketing from Reichman University in Herzliya. Efrat moved to the Boston area with her husband Ron and son, Itamar, a little over 11 years ago.

Ali Bluestone

Ali is excited to join the Camp Yavneh family!  She is looking forward to bringing her passion for counseling and working with children and adolescents to the Jewish camping world!  Ali has spent her career as a school counselor and math teacher/specialist at both public schools and Jewish day schools. She has a B.A. in Math and Latin and a Master's degree in School Counseling from Boston University. Having grown up attending and working at Jewish camp, she is passionate about helping Jewish children and teens develop their identities, navigate their independence, and have life-changing experiences at camp. Ali enjoys running in her free time and lives in West Hartford, CT with her husband and 2 kids.

Shore Goldberg – K’18

After a short hiatus, Shore is incredibly excited to be coming back to Camp Yavneh! Shore has spent the last five years working as part of senior leadership at Camp Givah in Albany, NY, and is currently earning his BA in Graphic Design at Binghamton University. Since he was in high school, Shore has been eager to help strengthen and build bonds within the Jewish communities. From Teaching at various Hebrew schools to volunteering with Northeast NCSY and NCSY Alumni, Shore has always done whatever he can to help ensure a bright future for Jewish youth- and is incredibly excited to bring that energy to his new role as Registrar and Office administrator at Camp Yavneh! Shore currently lives in Vestal, NY with his wife Shajar.

Rhonda Lake Cohen

Rhonda is thrilled to be back at Camp Yavneh as Business Administrator after attending camp from 1978 through 1983. She tells everyone she meets that Camp Yavneh truly shaped her as a person and that camp is one of her favorite childhood memories. Rhonda earned a BSEE from Tufts University and an MBA from Northeastern University. Rhonda recently relocated back to the Boston area after spending over 25 years in Morris County, New Jersey, where she and her late husband Mike raised two daughters, Allison and Deanna. She spent most of her career in engineering, but more recently, was the business manager for her town’s public library. In her free time, Rhonda enjoys reading, going to the gym, watching sports and traveling.

Ethan Naviasky – K’15

Ethan is excited to continue his time at Yavneh as the Operations Coordinator. During the summer, he helps manage the daily operations of Camp to ensure a smooth running of Camp Yavneh. During the year his responsibilities include: coordinating retreats, communications and social media, project management, and much more. Ethan has been at Yavneh for over a decade as a camper (K'15), counselor, rosh aydah (unit head), and operations associate and is now living in Boston.

Shirah Rubin

Shirah Rubin’s work in Jewish education focuses on creative arts-based learning in Jewish educational frameworks.  Her past positions include Director of Education and Administration at BIMA at Brandeis; Art Department Head at Gann Academy; Director of Arts and Culture at Brown/RISD Hillel; and Director of Congregational Learning at Kehillath Israel. She is a sculptor who works in mixed media and has worked in ceramics, mosaics, glass and photography, often combining these media. She enjoys expressing ideas and feelings in a visual language using materials appropriate to the metaphorical, historical and social elements of a project. As a teaching artist she has developed art and professional development workshops for audiences ranging from pre-k through adult students and teachers in settings ranging from museums to universities. This year Shirah has participated in IAC Gvanim, a leadership program of the Israeli American Council in Boston. Shirah is excited to be serving as the new Director of Family Camp in 2020.

Michelle Rosenhek Zelermyer

Michi has now been at Yavneh for over five summers and is thrilled to be back again! Michi’s love of engaging youth and young families in meaningful Jewish ‘edutainment’ (education and entertainment) fits perfectly in the camping world. She earned her B.A. from Concordia University in Psychology, and a Master’s degree from McGill University, in a collaborative program of the Jewish Studies and Education departments. Very involved and active in her home community of Montreal, Michi loves the chance to learn about other Jewish communities each summer through her interactions and conversations with campers and staff from all over the U.S. She enjoys reading, traveling, being outdoors and playing sports, cooking, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends playing all sorts of board games and card games. Michi is married to Cantor Gideon Zelermyer and has two sons, Max and Ben, who look forward to their summers at camp too!

Chana Israel

Chana is currently the Lead Teacher for Kindergarten and First Grade Judaics at the Hebrew Academy of the Capital District. She has directed Jewish educational programming over the past 20 years for students from pre-school through high school.  Chana has been a member of the chinuch staff for the past nine years and only three of her four children will be at camp this summer.

Molly Goldberg – K’15

Estelle Lajmer Gomolka

Estelle is a 5th grade teacher at The Greater Boston SSDS. She is a graduate of Maimonides school. She is celebrating her 41st summer at Yavneh (K’79). She has held many positions at Yavneh including Rosh Banot(head girls counselor). Estelle has well over 20 years teaching swimming and holds her WSI, lifeguarding CPR and First Aid instructor. She is married to Guy and has two children.

Benjamin (Bentie) Rabinovitch

Benjamin (Bentie) Rabinovitch is a seasoned camp professional who has held leadership positions in a number of camps in Israel, Europe and America. Most recently he served as the Program Director for the Szarvas Fellowships for six years. In addition to his camp experience, Bentie serves as the Early Childhood and Lower School Social Worker at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School in Manhattan, a position he has held since 2017. Bentie received a masters degree in social work from The Silberman School of Social Work and has a certificate in experiential education from Yeshiva University. Bentie is looking forward to joining the Camp Yavneh family!

Alanna Wolf

After a five year hiatus, Alanna Wolf is excited to be back for her 15th summer at Yavneh as Rosh Noar (Head of Upper Camp)! Alanna has served in many roles at camp - as a chanicha (K’08), madricha and rosh ayda, and she is a proud second generation Yavneh alum. Alanna also met her husband, Herschel Singer (K’09), at Yavneh! They currently reside in Northampton, MA, where she works as an occupational therapist.

Stacey Wyner

Stacey Wyner, APRN, FNP, joined the Marp staff in 2009. Her first experience with Yavneh was as a counselor in 1991 for Kfirim girls, then returned for Family Camp for a few summers with her husband and four children. Stacey has been working as a nurse practitioner for the past 20 years. Eighteen years were spent in a family practice in Connecticut and the last two years have been spent in a School-Based Health Clinic providing healthcare to underserved teens. Her children have all loved camp, only the younger two remain at Yavneh as campers. She is looking forward to another great summer at Yavneh.

Shira Kaizler-Martin

Leah Gann – K’18

Leah (K'18) is so excited to be back at Camp as Rosh Kerem for Kayitz 2023! This will be Leah’s 13th summer at Camp (including 2020), and she thinks it’s so amazing that she’s been able to call camp a second home for more than half her life. During the year she is a student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst as a psychology major and education minor. Leah hopes to be a school psychologist after finishing school! Leah loves the times in the bunk when everyone is hanging out together and forming new connections with friends or counselors, and thinks these are some of the most relaxing times at camp. Leah is also really excited to be able to experience Kerem again with her campers, and hopes to help them create an incredible summer!

Noah Berkowitz – K’19

Noah (K’19) is so excited for Kayitz 2023! Noah is currently a sophomore studying psychology and sociology at Brandeis University. Believe it or not, this will be his 10th summer at camp! Noah is most looking forward to the Ma’alot play as well as Ma'alot's amazing trip to Acadia, Maine! His favorite chug at Yavneh is sailing because he was on his high school sailing team, did the chug all the time as a camper, and had the honor of being rosh sailing for the past two summers. He can’t wait to see you all soon!!!

Ruthie Levy – K’19

Ruthie is so excited to be back at Yavneh for her 9th summer. Ruthie is a member of Kerem’19 and has always loved everything at camp on the beautiful agam. As a camper, Ruthie loved boating and free swim, and now she loves to lifeguard and teach swim. She is so excited to see many of her campers begin their lifeguard training this summer, as well as all of the dancing and singing they will do together all summer long. During the academic year, Ruthi is up north in Canada majoring in psychology and minoring in social entrepreneurship. Ruthie can’t wait to close the books and have an amazing Kayitz 2023

Ari Gerard – K’19

Ari Gerard (K’19) is beyond excited to be Rosh Levi'im! This will be Ari’s 13th summer at Yavneh, and he can’t wait for all the amazing pe'ulot and tiyulim that come with being in Levi'im (the best aydah)! As a camper, Ari’s favorite activities were sailing, archery, and soccer. Between summers at camp, Ari studies economics at the University of Connecticut, counting down the days until Kayitz ’23 begins!

Yardana Katz – K’20

Yardana katz, from Naaleh ‘21 is beyond ecstatic to be returning to Yavneh for her 10th summer as co-rosh Leviim. She just concluded a gap year in Israel and will be studying public health at the University of Massachusetts in the coming fall. Yardana’s favorite activity at Yavneh is swimming in the agam because it’s a chance to meet chanichim in other aydot and deepen friendships. The most meaningful moment for Yardana every week is Kabbalat Shabbat because it brings the entire camp together and is a chance to reflect on an amazing week filled with so many activities.

Ben Breslow – K’19

Ben (BBB) is excited to spend his 7th summer at camp this year with Arayot! BBB is Kerem ‘19, and currently studies Environmental Studies at Brandeis University. This summer, he is most looking forwards to Zimriyah, Zemirot, and the Arayot ‘23 overnights. His favorite camp chug is the Gan because he loves playing with the little kids in the Agam and outside!

Adina Smith – K’18

Adina is so excited to be returning for her ninth summer at Yavneh as Rosh Arayot! During the year, Adina studies education and sociology at Connecticut College, planning to pursue a career as a school social worker. She is most looking forward to Shabbat, Zimriyah, and KTV at camp when all of Yavneh comes together over a shared love of masoret (tradition) and kehillah (community). And, of course, some mostly friendly competition at Zim and KTV. Her favorite camp chugs are bishul (cooking) and omanut (art) because she loves cooking Israeli food and learning new art projects, and she can’t wait to return to these activities with her chanichim this kayitz!

Rachel Parsley – K’19

Rachel (K'19) is returning to Yavneh for their 9th summer; this year as Rosh Kfirim! During the year, Rachel is studying towards their bachelors degree in Anthropology at Hunter College. But during the summer you'll find Rachel in nagaroot (wood working) or in bishul (cooking), which are definitely their all time favorite chugs. Rachel is EXTREMELY excited to sing their heart out (and win) zimriyah, go stargazing on overnights, and enjoy shabbas dinner with the Kfirim campers during Kayitz '23!

Ze’ev Rosen – K’20

Ze'ev Rosen (K'20(RIP), N'21) is excited to come to Camp Yavneh for his 11th summer at camp. Ze'ev is currently finishing his first year at American University in Washington D.C. where he is majoring in political science. Besides just being back at camp, this summer Ze'ev is most looking forward to the Pe’ulat Erevs we are going to have! His favorite chug has got to be baseball chug because he has some really fun memories from when he chose that chug as a camper and he always heard about the fun stuff his friends did when they chose it!

Jonah Tillman – K’20

Jonah is super excited for this Summer as Co-Rosh Gefen 2023! Jonah was Kerem 2020, Na'alah 2021, and is looking forward to his 10th summer at the Machaneh. Jonah is currently studying Political Science at Grinnell College in Iowa! Tons of corn. There are so many things he's looking forward to this summer such as the achla yoms (day trips), Zimriyah, Yom Israel, Shabbat, and so much more! Jonah's favorite chugim at camp are either rikud (dance) or boating at the Agam with Estelle!

Abi Zimmerman – K’19

This is Abi's 11th summer (kayitz) at Yavneh! Abi was Kerem ‘19 and Naaleah ‘20. Abi just finished my her first year at the University of Pittsburgh where she's studying social work and to be a physician assistant. This summer (kayitz), Abi is most looking forward to Shabbat at camp, the many achla yoms (trip days), and all of the fun pe'ulot (activities) that Gefen is going to do! She can’t wait for the summer to start!

Isaiah Baker – K’17

Ruby Cover – K’20

Ruby (K'20) is soooo excited to be Rosh Gurim this summer. She is a member of Kerem '20 and Na'aleh '21, and is beyond ready to meet all of you, and see some familiar faces. This will be Ruby's 11th summer at Yavneh and her second summer on staff with Gurim. She loves everything about Yavneh, but some of her favorite things include swimming in the agam during daily free swim (our camp lake), singing her heart out at Zimriyah (our camp-wide signing competition) with the best aydah, and beating campers in Gaga (Just kidding, she's pretty bad). Ruby is currently a first year at WashU and although she does love school, nothing compares to Camp. She can't wait to see you guys and show you all the fun in store for this Kayitz.